Granite Grit (Fighting's in the Blood #1) Read Free

were born, the short time I required off to look after May in her time of need and the ten week spell after my poor mother committed suicide.
      A model employee as they say, but look at me now, totally skint, not able to provide for my family. Not able to buy any luxuries for May or the kids. Not able to take the kids on holiday or even go out to enjoy a meal.
      The whole situation really started to piss me off and it had to change.
     

Chapter 4
     
    Strange Turn:
     
      Things took a strange turn one late Indian summer’s night around eight o'clock. The sun beaming down over the red cloud-line and the air fresh. Taking advantage of the fine night, I went out jogging, the streets quiet enough at this time for some solitude. Jogging the odd night was a great way to get out of the house to clear my head of all the stress and worries hounding me from the ever increasing bill stack in the top drawer.
      Quite a long run, around four and a half miles, which would take me about forty-five minutes. A good amount of time to be out the house, the longer the better. The fresh air and time on my own was therapeutic.
      I worried so much, not knowing how we would be able to pay the mortgage and bills in the coming months. The £155 welfare went into the bank each week along with May’s £135, but it just wasn't enough for us. The savings now gone. Our pot was empty.
      My jog took me round the outskirts of Inverurie via the dual carriageway, returning over the river Don bridge heading back into town and toward my house. This bridge was the main road in and out of the place towards Aberdeen. Passing the bridge and listening to Oasis ‘Morning Glory’ blasting in my ears, I vaguely made out somebody shouting at me.
      “Joe! Wait! JOE!”
      I stopped on the pavement, removed my earphones and turned around looking to see who the Hell was shouting. A silver Mercedes was doing a U-turn in the middle of the road, redirecting straight towards me, as I stood silent on the pavement. As the car approached, I still couldn’t figure out who it was with the low sun blinding me. The car pulled up beside me, the window rolled down, and I then instantly knew exactly who it was. My old boxing pal Tim! I started to grin, happy to see my old friend again after all these years.
      “Well, well, if it isn’t the famous Joe Marks!”
      “Jesus Christ. Is that really you, Tim?” Taken totally by surprise. I hadn’t seen this guy for years.
      “The one and only! How’s tricks?”
    “Just grand, mate. How’s life treating you?”
      “Aye fine, lad.”
      “Still boxing?” Curious to know what he was up to nowadays.
      “No, not fighting any more. Just doing the coaching side of things at the Kilgour Club. What about you? When’s the last time you threw some leather?”
      “Ooh, Jesus. It’s been about 8 or 9 years since I’ve
    been in a gym. Kilgour club?”  
      “Aye, in Tilly. It belongs to a pal of mine now.”
      “My old gym! What happened to Stevenson?”
      “Aye, that’s right. No idea about Tommy, retired, moved on, I suppose.”
      “Jesus, that brings back some old memories. What you doing through these parts on a Wednesday night?” I asked.
      “Visiting my Gran, she's in the Garioch care home.” Tim replied with a sigh.
      “Where you staying now? Manor Avenue in Aberdeen still?”
      “Na. Got myself out of there when the wife started to show a bump. Didn’t want my kids growing up in a place like that. I’ve got a place in Kingswells now, just outside town. It’s a lot quieter there.”
      “Aye, you’re right, mate. That’s why we moved out here from Tilly, get away from the kind of life I had there.”
      “Hey, how about coming to the gym one night, have a little work-out, then we’ll get a proper catch up? Judging by the size of your gut, you need it.” Said Tim with a smirk.
      “I’d love to, but I don’t have any way of getting there and back.”
    “I’ll take